Eleanor V. Grossnickle, 89

BOONSBORO - Eleanor V. Grossnickle, 89, a resident of Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home, Boonsboro, for the last six years, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at her residence.

A daughter of the late Oscar A. and Sarah E. DeLawter Brandenburg, she was born Sept. 13, 1920, in Wolfsville, Md.

Upon graduation from Middletown High School in 1939, she was accepted into the Frederick Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, but decided to accept the marriage proposal of the Rev. C. Basil Grossnickle, and they were married for 69 years when he died on Sept. 19, 2009.

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Eleanor was a member of Grossnickle Church of the Brethren, Myersville.

She enjoyed being a homemaker, raising her family, being of service to her husband Basil's ministry, and being of service and caring for others. An avid vegetable and flower gardener, at one time she had more than 50 roses that she attended in her many flower beds. Eleanor and Basil enjoyed traveling on bus trips throughout the United States, and occasionally traveling to other parts of the world.

She was a past member of the Fahrney-Keedy Auxiliary, helping with the various functions for many years.

Surviving Eleanor are her three children, Dale E. Grossnickle of Fairplay, Carol Ann Harne and her husband, Glenn, of Myersville, Md., and M. Ellen Catlett and her husband, Leon, of Fairplay; her two sisters, Isabel Yingling of Boonsboro and Sara Jane Zimmerman and her husband, Carroll, of Walkersville, Md.; her brother Nevin Brandenburg and his wife, Paige, of Wolfsville; six grandchildren, Danny Harne and his wife, Diane, Jeff Harne, Brenda Kinna, Michael Grossnickle, Stephanie May and Nathaniel Catlett; and five great-grandchildren, Chelsea Kinna, Samantha Kinna, Willie Kinna, Lindsay Harne and Megan Harne.

In addition of her husband Basil, Eleanor was preceded in death by her sister, Joyce E. Davis; brothers-in-law, James Davis and Ralph Yingling; her brother, Hoye Brandenburg; and her sister-in-law, Onita Brandenburg.

Funeral services will he held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, at Grossnickle Church of the Brethren, Myersville, with Pastor Donna Ritchey Martin officiating.

Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Ricketts Funeral Home, 504 Main Street, Myersville, on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. For the convenience of family and friends, the funeral home will be open beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grossnickle Church of the Brethren Garden Fund, P.O. Box 575, Myersville MD 21773; or to the Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home Auxiliary, Nursing Scholarship Fund, 8507 Mapleville Road, Boonsboro MD 21713.